Archives for January 2010

When searching for employment in Canada, it is important for candidates to be prepared, not just to integrate into the Canadian workforce, but to organize a job search that is targeted specifically to the Canadian market.

A significant proportion of the Canadian economy is made up of small and medium businesses—Statistics Canada reports that more than three quarters of businesses in Canada are firms with fewer than 10 employees. Many of these businesses are family-owned, and are faced with the reality that there is nobody to pass the successful business on to upon retirement. These businesses present a prime opportunity for individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada as Entrepreneurs.

According to a recent report in a leading Canadian newspaper, family-owned businesses are facing a succession-planning crisis, which is to say that the owners and operators who are close to retirement have not sufficiently planned for the future of the business after they leave it. In some cases, the owners have no family members to pass the firms to, and in others the family members have chosen to establish careers separate from the family enterprise.

Canadian immigration programs for Entrepreneurs exist at both the federal and provincial levels, and Canada’s existing, successful businesses not only provide a path to Canadian immigration, but a future doing business in Canada as well.

To immigrate to Canada under the federal Entrepreneur program, an applicant must have a minimum net worth of CDN 300,000 and at least two years of business experience (ownership and management of a qualifying business) within the five years prior to the time of application.

The province of Quebec, which is responsible for selecting its own immigrants, has an Immigrant Entrepreneur program with a similar net worth and business background requirement.

As well, numerous provinces have Entrepreneur streams or categories under their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). For example, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) comprises multiple entrepreneur streams with net worth requirements ranging from CDN 300,000 to CDN 500,000 and New Brunswick’s PNP has a net worth requirement that is dependent on an individual’s business plan. British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Yukon territory and the Northwest Territories also have Entrepreneur streams under their Nominee Programs.

Under all of the Canadian immigration programs for Entrepreneurs, applicants must agree to implement a business plan upon obtaining permanent resident status in Canada, whether this plan involves setting up a new business or investing in and managing an existing one.

Canadian permanent residents who have immigrated under an Entrepreneur program must meet with immigration officials regularly during their first few years (the time period differs by program) to show they are satisfying the requirements of their program.

When a devastating earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Haiti on January 12, Canada’s response was almost immediate. From monetary aid and supplies to troops and aid workers, Canada is spearheading Haiti relief efforts on all fronts. Canadian and provincial immigration ministers immediately met to determine whether special immigration measures would be implemented, and ultimately decided to allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents with family members affected by the disaster to sponsor eligible family members on a priority basis.

Canada is home to one of the largest Haitian communities outside of Haiti, with more than 100,000 Canadians of Haitian descent living mostly in Montreal, Quebec. Canada also has a strong humanitarian presence in Haiti, and ties between the two countries are very strong, which is why reuniting affected Haitians with family members in Canada has been a priority for the Canadian government.

“Canada has welcomed a large community of Haitians to this country and is working to reunite families affected by this disaster as quickly as possible. Haitian nationals who are currently in Canada will also benefit from special measures,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada Minister Jason Kenney.

The special immigration measures that are currently in place are:

Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Canada can sponsor their eligible family members to immigrate to Canada from Haiti on a priority basis. New applications must clearly be marked “Haiti” to ensure priority processing.

Because immigration is a shared portfolio between the Quebec and federal governments, Quebec is responsible for selecting its own immigrants (including those they select on humanitarian and compassionate grounds). Quebec’s Immigration Minister announced last week that, for Haitians only, adult brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and aunts and uncles will also be eligible to be sponsored by their family members.

Federal family sponsorship applications that were already in place at the time of the earthquake will also benefit from priority processing. Sponsors should call Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to identify those applications.

Haitian nationals currently in Canada on temporary status can apply to extend their status in Canada, and those who are eligible to work can apply for Open Work Permits. These applications will also be processed on a priority basis, and fees associated for such applications have been waived.

A little over two weeks ago Haiti was rocked by an earthquake, which has since claimed over 150,000 lives, and has left hundreds of thousands homeless and wounded. This past Monday, top world officials gathered in Montreal for emergency talks on how to rebuild Haiti in its time of need. Perhaps the most pressing issue in the Canadian immigration community right now is the possibility of loosening immigration rules for Haitians affected by this disaster.